Lamp guard



y 4, 1954 G. w. HElNZ 2,677,753

LAMP GUARD Filed Nov. 29, 1949 I I Cius tav WJijecnz,

4 15 21 D E 21 10 M M ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP GUARD Gustav W. Heinz, Baltimore, Md.

Application November 29, 1949, Serial No. 129,917

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improved guard structure for trouble lamps of the type which include a handle, a reflector carried by the handle and a wire cage guard cooperating with the reflector to enclose the lamp. In some cases, a suitable hook or attachment for suspending the lamp is provided.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved type of open cage structure which is hingedly mounted with relation to the handle and reflector and is locked in its operative or closed position by engagement with means pivotally carried by the reflector. Upon releasing the locking engagement between the cage and the pivotally mounted locking means, the guard cage can be swung away from the reflector so as to permit ready access to the lamp for removing and replacing it. The invention also comprises means for assuring that when the wire guard is returned to its operative position, it will be guided and centered with respect to the reflector and the locking means carried by the reflector.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation;

Figure 2 is a side elevation with the locking member in looking engagement, as shown in full lines, and with the locking member in its released position, as shown in dot and dash lines, at which time the cage can be moved on its pivot away from the reflector;

Figure 3 is a back or rear view;

Figure 4 is a fragmental side view with the guard cage let down or lowered to permit access to the lamp; and

Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, a conventional handle member is shown at H) having suitable electrical connectors H and a switch member l2, as shown in Figure 2. The guard structure comprises a reflector l3, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, which at its lower end has a pair of outwardly extending clamping flanges M, as best shown in Figure 3. The guard cage structure consists of a frame made of a continuous length of wire bent into the form shown at IS. The lower free ends I6 of the substantially rectangular frame I5 are brought together and disposed within a tubular hinge member l'l formed, as shown in Figures 2 and i, by bending the metal of a clamping ring l8 outwardly into an integral closed tube having open ends. The ring 3 has outwardly extending clamping flanges l9 cooperating with the clamping flanges M. This engagement of the ends [6 of the continuous wire it in the tube ll provides a hinge whereby the wire guard is hingedly mounted with respect to the handle and reflector and the clamping member l8.

The wire guard cage also includes a lower arcuate transverse connecting wire 20 which is welded to the wire [5 at each side of the frame, as shown at 20, and to a central wire 2 l, as shown at 2 l the longitudinally extending wire 2| being also connected as by welding to the upper transversely extending part 22 of the Wire frame, as shown at 22 and being suitably curved and extending slightly beyond the same, as shown at 23.

The upper portion of the sides of the wire are bent inwardly, as shown at 23, at opposite sides of the frame and then upwardly, as at 23, and the corner portions 24' are flattened and bent to form extensions 25 which, in the normal position or" the guard, act as guides to engage the adjacent edge of the reflector and extend over the same and assure that the wire guard will be centered with relation to the reflector, as best shown at 25 in Figure 3. The extended free end 23' of the center wire 2|, in the normal closed position of the wire guard cage, is disposed under the top surface of the reflector substantially midway between the extensions 25, as shown at 26, and acts in cooperation with the flattened guiding extensions 25 to assure that the guard will be centered with relation to the reflector. By this construction, not only will the wire guard cage always be centered in relation to the reflector, but it will be held against movement and prevented from becoming loose as well.

The center wire 2| which, as shown in Figure 2, is generally curved near its upper end, is provided with an inwardly bent recess 21 for cooperation with a transversely extending arcuate locking member or wire ring 28 having its opposite ends freely pivoted to the reflector, as shown best at 29 in Figure 5. In the normal position of the parts, the wires of the cage being resilient, and the locking means 28 being also of resilient wire, the ring 28 is sprung into engagement with the recess 27 of the wire 21 whereby the cage is securely locked in position against pivotal movement. It will be noted that the locking engagement thus provided cooperates with the flattened extensions 25 of the wire frame If: and with the free end 23 of the wire 2! to assure that the cage will be held firmly in position at all times.

When it is desired to obtain access to the elec- 55 tric lamp 3!), as when the same has burned out or it is desired to include a lamp of additional candle power or a different color, it is only necessary to spring the curved wire ring 28 out of the recess 21 in the wire 2| and move it upwardly on its pivotal mounting 29, whence it will loosely clear the top of the reflector, and the flattened extensions 25 of the frame I5, as shown at 3| in dot and dash lines. The cage, including the wire frame l5 and the central wire 21, as well as the transverse connecting wire 26, can then be moved away from the reflector upon the pivotal mounting provided by the tube hinge l1 and the free ends I6 of the wire frame I5 which are disposed therein. That is, upon release of the locking engagement of the member or ring 28 with the wire 2i, the cage can be withdrawn or lowered and access provided to the lamp 30 which is normally enclosed between the reflector and the open wire guard cage. After the lamp has been replaced, it is simply necessary to swing the cage upward- 1y whence it will be centered by reason of the flattened extensions 24 engaging over the reflector and the upper free end of the wire 2| which engages under the reflector. In its thus closed position, the transverse ring member 28 is moved downwardly upon its pivotal mounting 29 until it springs into engagement with the recess 2! in the wire 21. Thereupon the open wire cage is securely locked into position against movement or looseness. If desired, a Wire hook or hanger member 32 may be secured to the reflector by passing the same through an opening 33 in the top of the reflector and welding the free end to both the top and the undersurface of the reflector.

The guard structure including the reflector and open wire cage guard, are detachably secured upon the end of the handle If) by means of bolts 34 and nuts 35 passing through the flanges l4 and [9, respectively, of the clamping rings carried by the reflector and guard, as best shown in Figure 5. In this manner, the complete device may be readily mounted upon a handle or detached therefrom.

the outer curved surface of said reflector, said cage having a longitudinally disposed wire portion extending between said side portions and terminating in an upwardly curved end arranged to extend below and engage the underside of the reflector, a curved retaining member pivotally connected to said reflector and arranged to be maintained in releasable locking engagement with the cage when the latter is moved to its closed position, and said offset flat extensions coacting with said upwardly curved end to guide and maintain the cage firmly in a. fixed position with the reflector when the parts are assembled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 914,190 Russell Mar. 2, 1909 972,480 Southwick Oct. 11, 1910 1,055,427 Sorensen Mar. 11, 1913 1,315,494 Heinrich Sept. 9, 1919 1,953,623 McGill Apr. 3, 1934 2,125,450 Knowles Aug. 2, 1938 2,142,362 Ludwig Jan. 3, 1939 2,259,237 Baker et a1 Oct. 14, 1941 2,421,057 Dunkelberger May 27, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 603,893 Germany Oct. 11, 1934 

